Arastu Reaches 400m Hurdles Quarterfinals at NCAA East Region Prelims

Thursday, May 26

Bloomington, Ind.

1:00 PM

Michigan

NCAA East Region Preliminary Rounds

Arastu Reaches 400m Hurdles Quarterfinals at NCAA East Region Prelims

5/26/2011 12:00:00 AM | Men's Track & Field

May 26, 2011

Site: Bloomington, Ind. (Robert C. Haugh Track & Field Complex)
Event: NCAA East Region Preliminary Rounds (Day 1 of 3)
Result: No Team Scoring
Next U-M Event: Friday, May 27 -- at NCAA East Region Preliminary Rounds - Day Two (Bloomington, Ind.), 11 a.m.

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Four University of Michigan men's track and field student-athletes were in action on day one of the NCAA East Region Preliminary Rounds on Thursday (May 26) at the Robert C. Haugh Track & Field Complex.

Freshman Ali Arastu (Northville, Mich./Northville) moved one step closer to NCAAs by advancing to Friday's quarterfinals in the 400-meter intermediate hurdles, finishing in 18th place (52.43), and third in his heat. He can advance to NCAAs if he finishes top three in his heat tomorrow (Friday, May 27), or has one of the three next fastest times overall.

But the story of the day was redshirt freshman Bradley James (East Lansing, Mich./Haslett), who narrowly missed qualifying for nationals in the high jump. He and five other individuals (places 9-14) each hit a top height of 2.14 meters (7-0 1/4 ft.), but James did not make the final group of 12 qualifiers due to number of attempts missed. Officially, the second team All-Big Ten Outdoor selection finished in 14th place.

Elsewhere on the track, sophomore Bobby Aprill (Dexter, Mich./Dexter) ran in the 10,000-meter run, finishing in 31st (30:21.43). Freshman Cody Riffle (Toledo, Ohio/St. John's Jesuit) was the other Michigan student-athlete in action, finishing 42nd in the shot put (15.94m/52-3 3/4 ft.).

The NCAA Individual Championships continue on Friday (May 27), beginning at 11 a.m. with the hammer throw (Ethan Dennis). In addition to Arastu in the quarterfinals of the 400-meter hurdles, other athletes in action include sophomores Austin DeWildt and Jack Greenlee (pole vault), Nick McCampbell and Herman Washington (110-meter high hurdles) and Craig Forys (3,000-meter steeplechase).

NCAA East Region Preliminaries (Day One)

Shot Put 1. Stephen Saenz, Auburn               19.82m (65-0 1/2)q42. Cody Riffle, U-M                    15.94m (52-3 3/4) High JumpT1. Maalik Reynolds, Penn                2.17m (7-1 1/2)q14. Bradley James, U-M                   2.14m (7-0 1/2) 400-meter Hurdles (Preliminaries) 1. Leslie Murray, Delaware St.         50.2318. Ali Arastu                          52.43 10,000-meter Run 1. Sam Chelanga, Liberty            29:00.94q31. Bobby Aprill, U-M                30:21.43

Contact: Brad Rudner (734) 763-4423